Comments on: Rover Cuddles Up to $12 Millionhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html
Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:27:00 +0000hourly1By: bfeldhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-160070
Thu, 20 Mar 2014 13:08:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-160070We obsessively focus on slippage. There are lots of positive ways to handle it without needing a stick. Mostly it’s around providing customer delight on both sides of the marketplace.
]]>By: Andrew Russakoffhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-160025
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:03:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-160025I’m sure – wish I could see under the hood Any strategies/recommendations specific to marketplace businesses for testing the strength of that value prop in the early product development phase to see if you’re past the tipping point?

Could you ever see merit in pairing a little “stick” with the “carrot”? For instance, spot checks on the service providers to see if they try to disintermediate the platform. For people who rely on the service for income, the possibility of being kicked off could be a powerful deterrent. Flip side is that it could alienate some and be a culture killer. Could also depend on the marketplace culture, i.e. Uber psychographics will be different from Rover.

]]>By: bfeldhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-160017
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 00:32:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-160017That’s a key part of the business. The marketplace has to provide so much value to the people on each side (supply/demand; buyer/seller) that there is no incentive to transact outside the marketplace. We feel like we are off to a strong start at Rover and have many things in the works to reinforce the dynamics of the relationship.
]]>By: Andrew Russakoffhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159937
Thu, 13 Mar 2014 22:47:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159937When it comes to these remnant asset monetization opportunities, how do are people evaluating/approaching the potential for participants to disintermediate the marketplace, especially in buying relationships that incorporate repeat business?

Uber and StubHub can sustain over the long-term because it’s difficult if not completely impractical for two participants to conduct repeat business out-of-band following the initial transaction conducted through the marketplace. AirBnB is similar. With Rover, I would have thought it pretty easy for customers to circumvent the network on follow up. Curious how many people actually do that and what Rover does to combat that, in addition to delivering what seems like a great value prop to both sides of the marketplace.

]]>By: bfeldhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159935
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 21:40:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159935Yup. Another Silent Killer. http://www.feld.com/archives/2011/12/the-silent-killers.html
]]>By: CamiloALopezhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159934
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 21:39:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159934Another gold nugget: “No bullshit. Total quants. Deep domain love. Complete lack of interest in marketing nonsense and overpromotion.” Awsme!!
]]>By: bfeldhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159932
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 18:48:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159932Thx. And look for rapid iteration on mobile.
]]>By: Michael Byrnehttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159931
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:39:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159931Yep, this is a great business. 50 million households, 80 million dogs, and idiots like me who spend a ton of money on their beagle. And if you look where the pet care revenue goes now, I would say that this service will greatly expand the pie, not just take away from existing pet care/housing options–(your RAM concept).

I have used this type of service repeatedly. Now add uber-style dogwalking so you have a DAILY marketing touchpoint with the consumer (instead of the infrequent boarding interaction) and hook into marketing vet services, pet supplies and you’ve got a mega-platform.

Right now it’s Coke and Pepsi, I think Rover has a better name and the other guys have much better branding and UX –and also better on mobile, which what Jason Mendelson says is the “killer app” for your Marketplace theme.

Anyway, it’s early, but I am sure you will be barking all the way to the bank.

]]>By: Ben Milsteadhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159929
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:20:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159929Good-looking site and UX — two clicks and I’m looking at a well-formatted list of sitters. Nice.
]]>By: bfeldhttp://www.feld.com/archives/2014/03/rover-cuddles-12-million.html#comment-159928
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:57:00 +0000http://local.feld.com/?p=10030#comment-159928Ah – well – therein lies the mystery of my life. I spent 10 minutes with Aaron in Seattle. The next few hours with him were in Boulder. I could have easily spent the first 10 minutes with him via videoconference.
]]>